Summary:
- The article discusses how the essential element zinc, which is one of the building blocks of life, likely arrived on early Earth through planetesimals - small celestial bodies that were the precursors to planets.
- Researchers analyzed the isotopic composition of zinc in meteorites and found that the zinc in early Earth's mantle was similar to the zinc in certain types of meteorites, suggesting that planetesimals containing zinc were a major source of the element for the early Earth.
- The study provides insights into the delivery of essential elements for life to the early Earth, which is an important area of research in understanding the origins of life on our planet.